Casgliadau Arlein

unhairing knife

The hides were placed in lime pits of varying strengths to loosen the epidermis and the fats and flesh that adhered to the corium. The hair was then removed using a blunt bladed unhairing knife, curved to fit the convex surface of the beam on which the hide was placed. The hair was not discarded but sold to plasteres and stone masons as an essential constituent of mortar.